A09402:113
A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so far forth as it is…A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so farre forth as it is…
A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so far forth as it is revealed in the Scriptures, and manifest by true experience. Framed and delivered by M. William Perkins, in his ordinary course of preaching, and now published by Tho. Pickering Bachelor of Divinity, and minister of Finchingfield in Essex. Whereunto is adjoined a twofold table; one of the order and heads of the treatise; another of the texts of Scripture explained, or vindicated from the corrupt interpretation of the adversary.A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so farre forth as it is reuealed in the Scriptures, and manifest by true experience. Framed and deliuered by M. William Perkins, in his ordinarie course of preaching, and now published by Tho. Pickering Batchelour of Diuinitie, and minister of Finchingfield in Essex. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table; one of the order and heades of the treatise; another of the texts of Scripture explaned, or vindicated from the corrupt interpretation of the aduersarie.
Cambridge: printed by Cantrell Legge, 1610Cambridge: printed by Cantrel Legge, 1610
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Again, we are to consider, that in these cases, the devil getteth the greater hold of man, and moves him to yield unto his suggestions the rather, because that which he promiseth to do for him is present and at his command, and therefore certain; whereas the thing to be performed on the behalf of the party himself, as the giving of body and soul, &c. is to come sundry years after, and therefore in regard of the particular time, uncertain. Now the natural man not regarding his future and final estate, prefers the present commodity before the loss and punishment that ⟨p. 51⟩is to come a far off, and thereby is persuaded to yield himself unto Satan. And by these and such like antecedents are many brought to make open league with the devil.
Againe, we are to consider, that in these cases, the deuil getteth the greater hold of man, and mooues him to yeeld vnto his suggestions the rather, because that which he promiseth to doe for him is present and at his command, and therefore certaine; whereas the thing to be performed on the behalfe of the partie himselfe, as the giuing of bodie and soule, &c. is to come sundry yeares after, and therefore in regard of the particular time, vncertaine. Now the naturall man not regarding his future and finall estate, preferres the present commoditie before the losse and punishment that ⟨p. 51⟩is to come a farre off, and thereby is perswaded to yeeld himselfe vnto Satan. And by these and such like antecedents are many brought to make open league with the deuill.
The secret and close league between the Witch and Satan is that, wherein they mutually give consent each to other, but yet without a sworn covenant conceived in express words and conference. Of this there be two degrees. First, when a man useth superstitions […] of prayer, wherein he expressly requireth the help of the devil, without any mention of sol•mine words or covenant going before. That this is a kind of compact it is plain, because herein there is a mutual under-hand consent between the party and the devil, though it be not manifest. For when a […] to use superstious forms of invocation, for help in time of need; by the very using of them, His heart consenteth to Satan, and he would gladly have the thing effected. When therefore the devil hath notice of them, and endeavo to effect the thing prayed for,